Neighbours to Oppenheimer Park homeless camp call on city to speed up response

By
Global News

WATCH: Neighbours of Vancouver's Oppenheimer Park encampment say the growing tent city has not only taken over their only major park but also left them feeling unsafe in their own neighbourhood. Tanya Beja reports.

Safety concerns have been growing throughout the summer at the park, peaking in July when a man was shot across the street on Powell Street. That same day, a Vancouver police officer was assaulted in the area.

The concerns have led to an uptick in police and fire safety officer patrols, but also a pullback in city resources.

But people who live at the park say the city needs to step back up and provide enough housing for the campers. Camper Jason Hebert argues that’s the only way the tent city will dissolve.

“We’re after a small, little, tiny one-bedroom apartment, so we can have a normal life like all you other people,” camper Jason Hebert said.

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart said last month he’s “hopeful” federal government funding will come through to help pay for additional housing, announcing he’s brought up the issue with Housing Minister Yves Duclos.

Stewart said the city is working with the provincial government and BC Housing to get those projects up and running.

Coun. Pete Fry said Stewart and the rest of council are committed to following through on their promise for more housing, but noted it will take some time.

“The mayor is not ignoring this situation, I just think we’re all at a loss of immediate solutions,” he said. “Say we were to try and remove people from the park. Where would we put them? That’s the question, right? Where would they go?”

The city has said it has no plans to impose an injunction at the park.